Congratulations to the 2025 JSJA Winners
Honoring the memory of John Stites and his passion for jazz music
Honoring the memory of John Stites and his passion for jazz music
Posted November 16, 2025
The JSJAO and The Gilmore will present Miki Yamanaka, 2025 Rising Star Jazz pianist and her trio at Bell’s Eccentric Café on Saturday, December 6. Yamanaka is known for her “light, expressive touch and solidly crafted, mainstream approach” and her vibrant personality reflected in the colorful kimonos from her native Japan that she wears on stage (All About Jazz – October 2025). She performs regularly at famous NYC jazz clubs Smalls and Mezzrow, as well as live streams her popular weekly concert series titled “Miki’s Mood”. “Miki’s Mood” features music from the Great American Songbook and the works of iconic jazz composers, as well as guest performances by many well-known NYC jazz musicians.
Ms. Yamanaka is internationally recognized as both a leader and a sideman and has released albums with jazz masters Mark Turner and Orlando le Fleming, and saxophonist Antonio Hart. She also performs frequently on organ and counts Larry Goldings as a mentor. Currently, she is working with the Mingus Big Band, the Harish Raghavan Quintet, the Philip Harper Quintet, and the Roxy Coss Quintet in addition to performing with her NYC trio members bassist Tyrone Allen and drummer Jimmy McBride.
In 2024, Yamanaka and her trio had the distinction of being one of the few groups allowed to record at the historic Rudy Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The album, “Chance” recorded with Van Gelder’s protégé Maureen Sickler also featured trio members Allen and McBride and is a mixture of jazz standards and tunes from legendary jazz icons. Kalamazoo Recording Engineer John Stites, who founded the John Stites Jazz Artist Organization, was a devotee’ of Van Gelder’s recording artistry and he would have been thrilled to sponsor a Gilmore artist who had recorded in Van Gelder’s studio. John might have had a few questions to ask Ms. Yamanaka, since Van Gelder was infamously private about the design of his recording studio!
Please join us at Bell’s Eccentric Café on Saturday, December 6 to see Miki Yamanaka and her trio perform. You will have the opportunity to hear a memorable evening of jazz performed by an artist selected to record their unique blend of tradition and innovation at the Van Gelder studio!
Photo credit: Martina DaSilva
John was kind and patient with great attention to details. He loved good music of all sorts...
Joel Mabus
The John Stites Jazz Awards (JSJA) are funded by the John Stites Jazz Artist Organization.
The organization funds advanced studies for emerging jazz musicians, as well as personal development projects which enhance their career opportunities.